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Numerous studies have been conducted detailing the relationship between crowdfunding and innovation in gaming – however, despite this, there remains a certain level of investor and community distrust that has been fostered through a lack of transparency between developers and users.

Visionary Realms is challenging that notion through community engagement and complete transparency in their relationships with investors and players. This is representative of the original aim of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, or MMORPGs. The interaction between players has always been key to the industry, and in this spirit, Visionary Realms has made a point to have a good relationship with the community – a relationship that is built on trust.

Crowdfunding allows game developers to move away from the funds typically provided by large publishing companies and move towards an alternative. With crowdfunding, the players of video games pay back the efforts put into game development, and this has become a popular way of investing as well.

Instead of gaining large amounts of money from a small number of big companies, game developers are now gaining small amounts of money from a large number of people. People typically become interested in investing in a game if they believe in its greater purpose, if they connect to the rewards it will offer them, and if they resonate with the creative aspect thereof.’

What stigma surrounds crowdfunding, especially in gaming?

According to Christopher Rowan, CEO, “oftentimes, people give time and money to a game which they honestly believe will change their lives, but once the initial funding has been secured, they feel out of the loop. There is no longer any real access to or communication about the game’s development. Seeing as the type of immersive and quality games we’re producing takes years, it’s no wonder that people lose interest and become disheartened if they no longer have any access to its progression.”

All too often, the community comes second to the pledges, but Visionary Realms aims to change this perception regarding crowdfunding in the game developer industry. The company reaches out to those who have pitched in, and continually ensures that they are aware of the game’s progress.

Visionary Realms Gives Complete Transparency to their Community 

Reports indicate that open levels of communication have an immense impact on the likelihood of crowdfunded projects succeeding. Especially in this fairly novel way of procuring sufficient funds to start a business, there are numerous people, or entities, who are wholly invested in the success of the business. In essence, transparency leads to success. Developers and players need to have open communication in order to ensure a successful game, and as such, a happy community.

Seeing as their game, Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, received $3M in crowdfunding, the game developer recognizes how together we can do great things. They did not need to rely on one or two massive investors who looked at them as only another source of potential income, but rather the everyday gamer who simply wants to be a part of something great, and inspire the creation of a world where they meet others who are like-minded. 

The company, founded in 2013, was only able to succeed due to a community that was excited at the prospect of what these developers would be able to offer – notably, a sense of community and connection.

From this dream of new and meaningful relationships has sprung a large community who are fully aware of the processes and operations which govern the developer. There are numerous facets to this transparency, including screenshots of the game’s progress.

The community gives a lot of its time to the game, and the developers at Visionary Realms dedicate that same time back to them.

Visionary Realms Continually Ensures Community Engagement

Community engagement and appreciation has always been at the core of the business model, and as the company itself grew, so too did its commitment to the people who made it happen.

Visionary Realms currently has two new Community Managers who are charged with ensuring that investors and players are always in the loop. These managers have the sole aim of making sure that everyone who gives their time and their money to the business receives the consideration which they deserve.

“We never would have reached this stage without people – without gamers who looked at us and thought, ‘they will make a new world, and I can be a part of it.’ That is exactly what we are doing – creating a space for people to chat, to foster friendships, and to grow not only as gamers, but as people,” says Rowan.

Final Take

In a world where big businesses tend to forget about the little man, and the people who made them who they are, Visionary Realms has the goal of doing the opposite – of remaining exactly what, and who, people invested in in the first place.